The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is placed under the Ministry of Health and Care Services in Norway and serves governmental authorities, the health service, the judiciary, prosecuting authorities, politicians, the media and the general public on different health issues in Norway. The Department of Pest Control at NIPH is the national competence centre for prevention and control of indoors pests, and during recent years the long-tailed silverfish has emerged as a regular pest of great concern in buildings in Norway. To increase the knowledge on how to control this species, researchers at the department have initiated a research project. The project focuses on gaining knowledge that can be utilized in creating building-wide, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions against the long-tailed silverfish. So far we have published a literature review that sums up current knowledge regarding biology and management of the long-tailed silverfish. Additionally, we have investigated efficiency of different control methods like mass-trapping with sticky traps, crack and crevice-treatments with pesticides and use of toxic baits. We have also looked at feeding preferences and spatial distribution of the long-tailed silverfish in buildings. In the project both laboratory assays and field experiments are utilized to achieve both controlled trails and fields realistic investigations. Results are continuously published in revised versions of the review report, and will also later be published in peer review scientific journals. Hopefully, our literature review and later published results elsewhere will be of help to more efficiently control long-tailed silverfish”

Here is the link to our website with the literature review on long-tailed silverfish: https://www.fhi.no/en/publ/2019/skjeggkre–biologi-og-rad-om-bekjemping/

We also have a shorter fact sheet for the same species, and here is the link to this: https://www.fhi.no/en/op/skadedyrveilederen/other-insects/long-tailed-silverfish/

Bjørn Arne Rukke, Senior Research Scientist, PhD
Anders Aak, Senior Researcher, PhD
Department of Pest Control
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Oslo, NORWAY